Stacking Game

ABSTRACT

A stacking game utilizes a rock shaped bowl base with an internal, asymmetrical cavity. A plurality of variously shaped and sized asymmetrical game members, optimally configured as misshapened stones, are placed, in turn by each player, within the cavity. The cavity is eventually filled with the game members and then additional game members are placed on each other to form a “rock pile.” Players whose placement of a game member causes one or more of the game members to fall off the pile are eliminated. The only player who does not cause a game member to fall is the winner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a game piece stacking game and moreparticularly to a new and improved stacking game which can be played bytwo or more people, and also by a single player.

There are a wide variety of stacking games which employ many differentkinds of stacking game members, i.e. block, balls, cards, cups, etc.These are designed to be placed in various stacking configurations andin combination with other components. For example, the game members usedin U.S. Pat. No. 7,052,013 are non-uniformly shaped stone-shaped pieces.However, the game pieces in this game, like many others, are designed tobe utilized with a number of other game components. This makes the gameitself more complicated to play, especially for young children. Suchgames are cumbersome to put away and store and difficult to transport.The increased number of game components obviously increases the costs ofmanufacturing and packaging the game, such that it is not aneconomically viable option.

As a result, there is a need for a unique stacking game which is notonly fun for both young and older players, but also addresses theproblem of simplicity of play, ease of storage and transport, andeconomy of manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a game and gaming method comprising a rockshaped bowl base with an internal, asymmetrical cavity. A plurality ofvariously shaped and sized asymmetrical game members, optimallyconfigured as misshapened stones, are placed, in turn by each player,within the cavity. The cavity is eventually filled with the game membersand then additional game members are placed on each other to form a“rock pile.” Players whose placement of a game member causes one or moreof the game members to fall off the pile are eliminated. The only playerwho does not cause a game member to fall is the winner.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use,together with additional features and advantages thereof, are bestunderstood upon review of the following detailed description withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the components of the game of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the rock shaped bowl base of the game of the presentinvention with its cavity being filled.

FIG. 3 shows the rock shaped bowl base of the game of the presentinvention with its cavity filled and a rock pile formed by the placementof game members.

FIG. 4 shows a game member of the game of the present invention fallingfrom the rock pile, thus eliminating one of the game's players.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF Tim INVENTION

The game of the present invention comprises rock shaped bowl base 2having internal cavity 4 which extends partially into the base. Cavity 4has bottom surface 6 within base 2 and open top 8. Front wall surface10, rear wall surface 12, and lateral wall surfaces 14 and 16 extenddownward from open top 8 at different angles in. relation to the bottomsurface, such that cavity 4 has an asymmetrical configuration.

Game members 20-32 are asymmetrical components having various shapes andsizes. These game members, as shown, take the shape of small to largestones, none of which are larger than cavity 4. However, it iscontemplated that the game members can also be configured as differentmisshapened components, e.g. arrowheads, imitation gold nuggets,diamonds, or gems, etc. And any number of game members can be used inthe game.

The game is best played by two or more players, with the player havingthe first turn placing one of the game members of any size or shape intocavity 4. The next player having a turn places any other game memberinto cavity 4. Each player in turn then places a game member into cavity4. After every player has placed his or her game member into cavity 4,the first player places another game member into cavity 4 and eachplayer in turn then continues the process until the cavity is filledwith game members. See FIG. 2. Players, in turn, then continue placinggame members on those game members which fill cavity 4, thus forming a“rock pile” 40 over the cavity. See FIG. 3. The first player whoseplacement of a game member causes one or more game members to fall offrock pile 40 is eliminated from the game. See FIG. 4. The next playerwhose placement of a game member causes one or more game member to falloff rock pile 40 is eliminated. This process of player eliminationcontinues until only one player remains. That player is the winner.

The game of the present invention is one which can be enjoyed bychildren as well as adults. While the game is designed to be played bymultiple participants, one person can play it by himself or herself;i.e. a single player can try to build the highest rock pile, before agame member falls.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed indetail in order to make the invention clear in at least one formthereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention asdisclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details asdisclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changesmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A game comprising: a rock shaped bowl base having an internal cavityextending into the base, said cavity having a bottom surface within thebase, an open top, and front, rear, and lateral wall surfaces extendingdownward from the open top to the bottom surface, each wall surfaceextending downward at a different angle in relation to the bottomsurface, whereby the cavity is asymmetrical in configuration; and aplurality of variously shaped and sized asymmetrical game members, nogame member being larger than the cavity, whereby a plurality of gamemembers are configured to fill the cavity and be positioned in a pileabove the cavity.
 2. The game as in claim 1 wherein the game members areshaped as asymmetrical stones of various shapes and sizes.
 3. The methodof playing a game comprising the steps of: providing a rock shaped bowlbase having an internal cavity extending into the base, said cavityhaving a bottom surface within the base, an open top, and front, rear,and lateral side wall surfaces extending downward from the open top tothe bottom surface, each sidewall surface extending downwardly at adifferent angle; providing a plurality of variously shaped and sizedasymmetrical game members, no members being larger than the cavity;placing one of the game members within the cavity; placing a second ofthe game members within the cavity; continuing the placement of gamemembers individually within the cavity until the cavity is filledmembers; placing a game member on the game members filling the cavity;continuing the placement of individual game members on the game membersfilling the cavity to form a pile of game members; and continuing theplacement of individual game members on the pile until one or more ofthe game members falls off of the pile.
 4. The game as in claim 3wherein the game is played by two or more players and comprises thefurther steps of: alternating the placement of game members by theplayers, whereby each player takes a turn in placing the game members inthe cavity and then on the rock pile; eliminating from the game anyplayers whose placement of a game member on the rock pile results in oneor more placed game members falling from the pile; and declaring as thewinner of the game, the player whose placement of a game member on thepile does not cause any other placed game member from failing from thepile.